Nota Bene • Spring 2015 1

SPRING

2015

Welcome to NYO Canada’s Biannual Newsletter!Celebrating Canada’s finest emerging artists • Met en scène le meilleur de notre relève artistique

IN THIS ISSUE... CONDUCTOR’S PROFILEMAESTRO MICHAEL FRANCIS

CONDUCTOR’S PROFILE

TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT

COMPOSERS

ENSEMBLES IN RESIDENCE

EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES

MEDIA PROJECTS

AWARDS

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

NYO STAFF

NYO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SCHOLARSHIPS

IN MEMORIAM

NYO Canada is pleased to welcome Michael Francis as our 2015 Season conductor. In October, 2014, Michael Francis assumed the role of Music Director of San Diego’s Mainly Mozart Festival, and in September 2015, begins his first season as Music Director for The Florida Orchestra, while entering his fourth season as Chief Conductor and Artistic Advisor to Sweden’s Norrköping Symphony Orchestra. His conducting career took off in 2007, when across successive seasons he replaced Valery Gergiev and John Adams with the London Symphony, then André Previn with the Stuttgart Radio Symphony.

His orchestral engagements have included the New York, Seoul, Helsinki, Malaysian and Hong Kong philharmonics; and Pittsburgh, Toronto, Houston, Seattle, Cincinnati, NHK [Tokyo], and Vancouver symphonies. Francis has collaborated with artists like Christian Tetzlaff, Lang Lang, Arcadi Volodos, Baiba Skride, Alisa Weilerstein, Miloš and Rufus Wainwright. Michael Francis recently recorded the complete Rachmaninoff piano concertos with Valentina Lisitsa and the London Symphony Orchestra for Decca Records (2013). Previous recording credits include Rihm’s Lichtes Spiel with Anne-Sophie Mutter and New York Philharmonic (2011) and Rachmaninoff’s 5th/ Shostakovich’s 2nd piano concerti with the London Symphony and Julius-Jeongwon Kim (2012), both for Deutsche Grammophon.

chief conductor and atistic advisor, norrköping symphony music director, mainly mozart festival, san diego, ca music director designate, the florida orchestra

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Arts Commons

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2015 composers

rbc foundation emerging composerNYO Canada is proud to announce the winner of the 2015 RBC Foundation Emerging Composer competition: Emilie LeBel. The RBC Foundation's Emerging Artists Project, and the SOCAN Foundation, fosters some of the many young and exciting composers that Canada has to offer. With the assistance of groups like the RBC Foundation and SOCAN Foundation, NYO Canada is able to continue its mandate to support young Canadian musicians, and we are very thankful for their support.

“I am delighted to be the 2015 RBC Emerging Composer for NYO Canada, and I am looking forward to working with the musicians, the conductor, the faculty and staff of the NYO for the upcoming summer. Opportunities like this, presented to emerging artists, make a contribution to the richness of the cultural life in Canada, and I am particularly grateful to the donors that transform those opportunities in realities."

emilie lebelnyo canada’s commissioned composeralfredo santa ana

NYO Canada firmly believes in com-missioning new music from Canadian composers, not only for the benefit of their students, but to also play a leading role in the present and future of the Canadian music milieu. NYO Canada is delighted to announce that we have commissioned a new work by a Canadian composer: Alfredo Santa Ana. Vancouver-based Santa Ana has been writing music for more than a decade, and collaborated with ensembles such as the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, Standing Wave Ensemble, Orchestre de la Francophonie, Turning Point Ensemble, and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

“I am honored and humbled to have been invited to write a new work for NYO. Opportunities for composers to write for orchestra are rare, and NYO’s ability to reach audiences across Canada means my work will have national exposure that is essential for me at this point in my career.”

ensembles-in-residence

Since its implementation in 2009, the chamber music program has expanded to a full 2 weeks of training, rehearsing, and performing works for small ensembles. NYO Canada has recruited some of the best faculty in the country to coach the student ensembles. This year, we are pleased to announce that the Formosa Quartet will be joined by the Lumière Quartet and the Gryphon Trio.

The Formosa Quartet is “one of the best string quartets of its generation” (David Soyer, cellist of the Guarneri Quartet). Since 2002, when the four founding members came together for a concert tour of Taiwan, the Formosa Quartet has been deeply committed to championing Taiwanese music and promoting the arts in the land of its heritage. They have commissioned and premiered numerous works by Taiwanese composers, and each summer the Formosa Quartet spends three weeks in Hualien, Taiwan, where they serve as artist-faculty of the Formosa Chamber Music Festival.

Formed in 2002, the Lumière Quartet has chosen to focus on the great Classical and Early Romantic repertoire. David Stewart and Paule Préfontaine, violins; Stephen Marvin, viola; and Christina Mahler, violoncello, are well known in Canada as proponents of historically informed performance at the highest level, not primarily as an academic discipline, but directed to the purpose of bringing out the full expressive range of the enduring chamber music from Mozart to Schubert.

Having celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2013, Gryphon Trio has impressed international audiences and the press with its highly refined, dynamic performances and has firmly established itself as one of the world’s preeminent piano trios. The ensemble-in-residence at Music Toronto for a decade, Gryphon Trio tours extensively throughout North America and Europe. Deeply committed to the education of the next generations of audiences and performers alike, the Gryphons take time out of their busy touring schedule to conduct master classes and workshops at universities and conservatories across North America, and are Artists-in-Residence at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music.

formosa quartet • lumière quartet • gryphon trio

Lumière Quartet

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exciting opportunities

NYO Canada, with the generous support of our Travel Sponsor Air Canada and an Anonymous Donor, is offering an amazing opportunity to our supporters: one week’s stay for 2 people on the enchanted Turks and Caicos Islands. For every $250 donation received between May 04 and August 10, 2015, you will be rewarded with one entry in the draw. Bask in the serene glow of the almost uninhabited Northwest Point of the Island of Providenciales, surrounded by a Marine and Bird Sanctuary and miles of unspoiled beaches. Relax in utmost privacy, enjoy the constant breeze and turquoise waters. No crowds, no noise. The winning entry will be drawn on-stage during our concert in Edmonton, Alberta on August 10, 2015. The prize includes roundtrip airfare for two from Toronto to Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands on Air Canada (black-out dates may apply) and accommodations in a one bedroom, oceanfront condominium with a fully-equipped kitchen at the Northwest Point Resort. Not included: food and ground transportation.

This offer is not available to the employees and members of the Board of Directors of NYO Canada and their families. Only donations received between May 04 and August 10 are eligible.

media projectstrillium webinars

the warmest way to say: thank you!

for contest details, visit our website at nyoc.org!

NYO Canada, along with Team “Molto Presto” captain John Rudolph, invite you to walk or run with us this fall to raise money at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Our goal is to raise $15,000 which will cover 15 individual student stipends for the 2016 Orchestra! For more information on how to participate in the 5k, Half Marathon, or to support “Team Molto Presto,” please contact Zoe Fine at zfine@nyoc.org or 1-888-532-4470 ext 225.

support team “molto presto” at the scotiabank waterfront marathon0ctober 18, 2015

NYO Canada is proud to announce a new project that has been made possible thanks to a grant from The Ontario Trillium Foundation. In our attempt to provide further education to more musicians - even in remote places – we have embarked on a 3-year project to bring short masterclasses to any and all musicians who would like to learn from some of our world-renowned instructors. The short webinars will touch on, among other things, audition excerpts.

While not a replacement for in-person instruction, NYO Canada hopes that these webinars will be a teaching supplement, and a great way for future NYO Canada members to have access to our faculty of professional musicians and music educators. These videos will be fully accessible to anyone with an internet connection, thereby widening the scope and reach of Canada’s premiere orchestral finishing school.

An agency of the Government of OntarioUn organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario stay tuned!

Jonathan WelmersTour & Production Manager

to support team “molto presto,” please visit nyoc.org !

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Awards

Due to the tremendous support of our sponsors and donors, NYO Canada is able to increase the number of Awards of Excellence for this year’s Orchestra members from 6 to 10. Since they were implemented in 2010, the total number of Awards of Excellence has doubled! It is always a great privilege to recognize, with a $5,000 Award, our most promising students. These students have been selected amongst the pool of almost 500 candidates from the 2015 auditions. Their performances have been deemed the absolute best in class and they clearly demonstrate the value they bring to the 2015 NYO Canada’s Training Institute and Tour. Congratulations to all!

James Enns, violin NYO Alumnus: ‘13, ‘14, Hometown: London, ONSchool: McGill University.

Roland Gjernes, celloNYO Alumnus: ‘11Hometown: Surrey, BCSchool: University of Ottawa.

Eric Abramovitz, clarinetHometown: Montreal, QCSchool: McGill University.

Gregory Lewis, violinNYO Alumnus: ’14, Hometown: Thunder Bay, ONSchool: University of Manitoba.

Jonathan Yeoh, double bassNYO Alumnus: ‘13, ‘14Hometown: Calgary, ABSchool: University of Calgary

Brian Mangrum, hornHometown: Montreal, QCSchool: Rice University, Houston, Texas.

Catherine Gray violaNYO Alumna: ‘12, ‘13Hometown: Calgary, AB School: Yale University.

Dakota Martin, fluteNYO Alumnus: ‘14Hometown Lanark, ONSchool: Royal College of Music, London, UK

Phoebe Powell, harpNYO Alumna: ’14Hometown: Cochrane, ONSchool: Glenn Gould Conservatory

Carmen Bruno, cello Hometown: Ottawa, ONSchool: Conservatorium van Amsterdam

Canada Council Michael Measures PrizeValue of $25,000To be announced during the 2015 Tour!

for more information on our

award winners, visit our facebook page at

www.facebook.com/nyoconjc

nyo canada staff : welcome robert tomas!national director of philanthropy and communications

The new National Director of Philanthropy & Communications, Robert Pierre Tomas is an experienced fundraiser with an almost 20 year career in the non-for-profit sector, ranging from Universities (York & Ryerson), to health organizations (Canadian Diabetes Association), to social services (YAY, Moorelands and PWA). In a former life, Robert was a broadcaster and a producer of classical music shows. He brings this love of music to NYO Canada, combined with a strong motivation to help people reach their full potential.

Robert has been a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) since 2003 and just recently became one of only six North-Americans to earn the international masters-level degree MInstF (AdvDip) – Member of Institute of Fundraising, Advanced Diploma under the guidance of professors from Centre for Sustainable Philanthropy at Plymouth University (UK). You can read his classical CD reviews in WholeNote magazine. He has also served as a judge for the JUNOs.

meet our 2015 awards of excellence winners!

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NYO Board of DirectorsNew Members

Bill Clark auditioned in the late sixties for NYO Canada, as he was a clarinetist. He had heard that they would give preference that year to those that could double on Alto Saxophone (some Bizet in the repertoire?), his favorite instrument. Alas, he did not get in, but fortunately does not hold any grudges, so he agreed to join the NYO Board of Directors. “I wasn’t a great student,” says Bill of his university years, “I needed something else to step up to my family responsibilities and ended up in Information Technology”. Bill is a CCP (Certified Computer Professional), CMC (Certified Management Consultant) and has a CTAJ designation (Certificate in Tribunal Administrative Justice). An alum of both the University of Saskatchewan and University of Nevada (Reno), Bill has spent many years…. gambling, or rather overseeing gambling as a member and chair at Western Canada Lottery Corporation, Interprovincial Lottery Corporation and the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission. His many years with CGI and DMR Group (both large global IT management companies) happily coexisted with musical interests – Bill sat on the Board of the Edmonton Opera Association. Now, having come full circle, we welcome him at NYO Canada.

Kevin Latimer, Q.C. is the Managing Partner of the Halifax office of Cox & Palmer and a recognized professional in Administrative and Public Law, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, and Labour and Employment Law. A graduate of Mount Alison University, with a Masters from Carleton, and a Law Degree from Dalhousie, Kevin is a lover of the arts and has served as a Governor of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. His expertise will serve him well not only as a Board Member, but also as a host of NYO Canada’s concert in Halifax in 2017 – a first in many years.

Paul Tichauer is an experienced CEO and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He specializes in commercial arbitration and mediation for the metallurgical and minerals processing sectors. He has an extensive and widely diversified inter-national commercial background having held senior leadership positions with industrial and technology companies in Canada, the USA and Europe. A skilled and respected business leader, engineer and scientist, Paul now mentors a number of CEOs in a broad array of industries and sectors. A metallurgical engineering graduate from McGill University and a PhD in metallurgy from MIT, Paul also earned an MA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, and an MBA in Finance at Pace University. He has served on the boards of a number of companies and institutions and is a former Board Chairman of Soundstreams, one of Canada’s greatest promoters of contemporary music, recently celebrated for the production of “The Whisper Opera” by David Lang. And before all of this, Paul studied ‘cello for 10 years with Walter Joachim, principal cellist of the MSO, as well as trombone at Westmount High School.

scholarshipsnamed donation opportunities

This summer, invest in an emerging artist’s future! Each year, the 90-100 student musicians selected to participate in NYO Canada can do so at no cost to them; NYO provides free tuition, room and board, and $1000 to each student who successfully completes the Summer Training Institute, National Concert Tour, and professional recording session. The total value of this life-changing experience is $12,000 per student. NYO also pro-vides Awards of Excellence and other special awards and prizes to our top musicians. We hope that you take the time to look over our different levels of support and chose to help foster the next generation of emerging Canadian artists. We are most grateful to all of our donors for the contributions that enable us to educate and train up-and-coming Canadian musicians, so please, take the time today to consider a donation to NYO Canada.

Provide a Scholarship

Present an Award Offer a Grant

Full Young Artist Scholarship$12,000Covers all of the cost of one student’s participation in the Training Institute, Tour, and Recording, over the 8 weeks

Summer Institute Scholarship$6,000Covers the expenses of one student’s 5 week intensive training session on the campus of Wilfrid Laurier University

TD National Tour Scholarship$5,000Covers the costs of one student’s participation in the national tour, from Vancouver to Montreal

NYO Stipend$1,000Presented to each student upon completetion of the Training Institute and Tour, for their own discretionary use

Award of Excellence$5,000Given to the best artists in their class, as identified through the auditions process

Educational Grant$4,000Covers one student’s portion of the costs of providing a faculty of renowned musicians

Residency Grant$3,000Covers the cost of one student’sRoom and Board

Musical Instruments Grant$1,500Covers one student’s portion of instruments’ rental and transportation

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NYO Board of Directors

alumni spotlightaaron schwebel

Here at NYO Canada, we love to follow the careers of our alumni. Recently, we had the chance to chat with one of NYO’s most accomplished graduates. Aaron Schwebel (’03, ‘04, ’05, ’06), Concertmaster of the National Ballet Orchestra and Associate Concertmaster with the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra, credits NYO for shaping his professional life. Starting violin at age 4, and singing at age 5, Schwebel pursued his academic career at McGill University and Indiana University where he graduated in Violin Performance. Now an established professional musician, he took a look back on his time with the NYO.

Yaëla Hertz Berkson encouraged him to audition for the Orchestra at a young age. According to him, Hertz was convinced that NYO has a ``profound impact … on the lives of young people.” Momentous yet challenging is how Aaron recalled his first summer with NYO at the tender age of 15. Feeling like a “fish out of the water” while playing the Suite from Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss, he learned how to follow a conductor, and realized how an orchestra full of individual players needs to become one in order to make music. Aaron believes that this is one of the most important things that he learned during his four years with NYO, and it was not only a musical lesson, but also a life lesson.

“In an orchestra, or any musical ensemble, we learn how to co-exist and contribute fully as ourselves while listening to others. It’s a reminder of one of life’s basic principles: that we need each other to survive. A performance depends upon everybody listening to each other. It is one thing to have a musical personality, no matter how outstanding it is, and another to be able to integrate that within the collective will of every musician you share the stage with. Life is the same way, and this is the most important thing I learned from my summers with NYO Canada.”

One of his best memories in NYO is performing Mahler’s 5th Symphony. Not only it is a great piece of music, but it also reminds him of all the people with whom he shared this moment in time. The relationships that were built then seem to have been, and still are, very significant to him.

“A summer in NYOC is extremely powerful for young people because you are experiencing time very intensely together; tight-knit living circumstances, spending every waking (and on the tour bus, sleeping) minute with each other, discovering common attitudes, falling in love, hanging out late into the night, even if we had to wake up at 7:30 for a music history lesson.”

Not only did NYO provide him with colleagues, but more importantly, with friends that he remains in touch with even in the midst of his professional career. When asked about his goals as a musician, Schwebel always brings it back to the people with whom he gets to share it with. Also, he wants to learn every day, which is pretty much what you do as a member of NYO!

Aaron is a part of a community of more than 3000 alumni spread out around the country, and the world. As Aaron puts it: “…there is a family among NYO Canada alumni.”

Alumni, we have some exciting news coming your way! We are in the process of launching a wide array of services only for YOU! If you have any ideas about what you would like NYO to provide you with, or if you would like to update your contact information, please contact Simon Ouellette at souellette@nyoc.org

air canadaproud supporter of nyo canada

Air Canada, this country’s premier business and leisure airline, is a proud supporter of NYO Canada. Through an ongoing partnership with the airline, we are able to provide our students with a comfortable travel experience getting to and from the Training Institute in Waterloo, ON and on the Cross-Canada Tour. One of the most imaginative initiatives is the annual Air Canada Audition Award. Young musicians often need to travel long-distances to auditions in the hope of earning a spot in a professional orchestra. As a way of assisting these emerging artists, Air Canada provides one student with two, economy class, round trip tickets to anywhere in North America that Air Canada flies, in order to pursue their dream of being a professional orchestral player. For all the members of the orchestra, the discounted Air Canada flights to attend the training session and return home after the tour are also a welcome gift. Because of these initiatives, our students are grateful to Air Canada for their support, and we are looking forward to our future joint endeavours.

Help us fly! We continue to take donations of Aeroplan Miles to help our students fly across the country. Our 2015 Aeroplan Campaign is fast approaching, and if NYO Canada receives up to 90% of our goal, Aerorplan will graciously contribute the remaining 10%! For more information contact Zoe Fine at 416-532-4470 or zfine@nyoc.org

aeroplan’s charitable pooling program

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An initiative by Sasha Johnson (’93, ’96) and James Sommerville (’82, ’83, ’84), the Canadian National Brass Project is a large ensemble comprised of the best symphonic brass players from across the country. Hailing from top orchestras, they will be touring Ontario this summer and we have the privilege to be hosting them for their rehearsals during our summer institute at

Wilfrid Laurier University. Under the baton of Mr. Sommerville, they will be performing works such as Copland’s stately Fanfare for the Common Man, Bernstein’s electrifying West Side Story Suite, Mussorgsky’s regal Pictures at an Exhibition, and selections from the divine canzone of Giovanni Gabrieli. They will be joining forces for what will be a ground breaking experience in Canada, and we are delighted to be part of their journey.

canadian national brass project

in memoriamremembering friends of nyo canada

nyo canada says goodbye to dr. james stewartWe would like to recognize the passing of NYO Canada supporter and dear friend Dr. James Stewart who passed on December 3, 2014 after a courageous battle against multiple myeloma. He was 73 years old.

James was an important member of the Toronto community; known to many for his calculus textbooks - a best seller for first year students - he was also a gifted violinist who performed in the Hamilton Philharmonic and the orchestra at McMaster University, where he taught for three decades. Throughout his career, he worked to recognize and support young emerging artists through salon nights at his home. His love of music soon yielded one of the most spectacular homes in Canada, Integral House. Integral House, stands as a testament to James’ love of music and desire to create a space for musicians to perform. Designed by renowned Shim-Sutcliffe Architects, Integral House boasts a spectacular music space with acoustics that rival many professional concert halls. On May 12, 2014, NYO Canada had the privilege of hosting a concert at Integral House, with performances by some of our outstanding alumni and faculty. The unique space, beautiful music, and James’ accommodating nature made the evening meaningful and moving for all in attendance.

A kind and benevolent individual, James will be missed and remembered by everyone within the Toronto arts community and NYO Canada. We are grateful that his legacy will impact numerous emerging artists for years to come.

joan watsonWe were very saddened to hear about the passing of Joan Watson, principal horn with the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra and ’74 NYO Canada alumna. Not only will Joan be remembered for her brilliant musicality, she will remain an inspiration to all brass players around the country. Her contribution to the Canadian musical scene is tremendous not only as a player, but also as an educator. NYO Canada students have benefited from her wisdom, and her talks were always much appreciated. Joan will be missed here at NYO and we would like to pass along our condolences to her family and friends.

major sponsors

national tour & audition sponsor

an Ontario government agencyun organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario

NYO Canada59 Adelaide St. E. - Suite 500 • Toronto, ON, M5C 1K6

Toll Free - 1.888.532.4470 • Toronto - 416.532.4470 • Fax - 416.532.6879info@nyoc.org • www.nyoc.org

Charitable Registration No. - 10776 4557 RR0001

Editorial Contributions:

Zoe Fine, Victoria Kotyck, Simon Ouellette, Barbara Smith, Robert Pierre Tomas, Jonathan Welmers

NYO Canada expresses sincere appreciation to David Popoff and Victoria Kotyck for the design of this newsletter

A special thanks to Trajectory and Tom Feiler for our National Tour theme and photography